Pole reversing switch



Oct. 12, 1943. -A. A. BLUEMLE ETAL 2,331,534

POLE REVERS ING SWITCH Filed Aug. 13, 1941 J INVENTORS Amqw A. JUIINLL Ann Will/4M E419! W ATTORNEYS v Patented Oct. 12, 1943 POLE REVERSING SWITCH Arnold A. Bluemle and William Earl Brown, Anderson, Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application August 13, 1941, Serial No. 406,698

8 Claims.

This invention relates to controlling mechanism for electric circuits and more particularly to controlling mechanism in which the direction of current flow through the make-and-break device of an ignition is periodically reversed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a switch for controlling an electrical circuit, such as an ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine, and so constructed that the direction of current will be changed by successive operation of the switch for reversing polarity of ignition circuit to obtain flat contact operation of the timer contacts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a very simple and inexpensive form of pole reversing switch which may be easily mounted to suit the service for which it is intended.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel mounting for a pole reversing switch which may be readily incorporated with a switch adapted for use with starting apparatus including means for cranking an internal combustion engine.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a fragment of the starting motor with a starting switch and pole reversing switch mounted thereon and showing the actuating means for the switches.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the switch and actuating means shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the pole reversing switch taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the switch housing with the switch elements removed.

Fig. 5 is a rear plan view of the pole reversing switch and illustrating the same connected with the usual ignition system.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing one side of the contact carrier used in the pole reversing switch. Fig. 7 is a side view of the contact carrier.

Fig. 8 is a plan view ShOWlIlg'thB opposite side of the contact carrier shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an end view of the ratchet collar used in the switch.

Referring to the drawing 20 designates a fragment of a frame of a starting motor. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the frame 20 encloses an armature, pole pieces and field windings, not shown. The armature is mounted on a shaft which supports a gear or pulfor a shaft 4|.

ley having a slidable splined connection with the shaft. The gear or pulley is adapted to be moved endwise into engagement with a gear or flywheel operated by the engine. Illustration of these parts is deemed unnecessary to understand the present invention. It is to be understood that the gear or pulley'on the armature is moved endwise into engagement with the flywheel by a lever 2| suitably pivoted to the frame 2!! of the starting motor. The lever 2| is connected with a rod 22, which extends through the floor board of the automobile to a pedal actuated by hand or foot, not shown. It is to be understood that when the pedal is depressed the rod 22 will move the lever 2| in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2, to shift the gear or pulley endwise on the armature shaft into engagement with the flywheel oi" the engine to be started. This movement of the lever 2| will close a starting motor switch 23.

The starting motor switch 23 includes a casing 24 attached to the frame 20 by screws 25 or in any other suitable manner. The casing 24 encloses a pair of stationary contacts and a movable contact. The movable contact i carried by a plunger 29 slidably supported by the casin 24. The plunger carries a cap 39. A spring 3| is interposed between the cap and housing to hold normally the movable contact separated from the stationary contacts.

A pole reversing switch 30 and the means for actuating said switch which comprises the present invention includes a cup-shaped housing 35, the open end of which is counterbored to provide an annular shoulder 36 and an annular flange 31. The flange 31 is provided with spaced tangs 33. The bottom wall 39 of the housing has an external apertured boss or hub 40 forming a bearing The internal face of the bottom wall 33, has a plurality of spaced teeth 42 concentrically arranged with respect to the aperture in the boss 40. These teeth are preferably integral with the bottom wall of the housing and extend away from the plane of said wall. An angular extension 43 supports the switch housing 35 on the motor frame 20. In the present instance the bracket 43 is shown as being integral with the housing, as shown in Fig. 3. It is to be understood that a separate bracket could be provided instead of the extension 43. In this case the bracket would be attached to the housing by spot Welding or by other suitable means. The free end of the extension 43 i provided with apertures to receive screws 45 for attaching the extension to the motor frame 20.

The shaft 4| rotatably supported in the bearthe bottom wall 3%.

the reduced end so as to be driven by the lever.

The reduced end 59 is riveted over against the lever to maintain the lever Bil and the shaft 4! in assembled relationship with the housing as is apparent from the showing in Fig. 3.

An apertured contact carrier 55 of insulating material is rotatably mounted on the enlarged portion 46 of the shaft H. One side of the contact carrier has a boss 56 and a plurality of equally spaced lugs 57, the face of the boss contacting a plane surface about the aperture in The lugs 5'! are arranged concentrically with respect to the boss and are located in the path of the teeth E2 on the bottom wall of the housing, said teeth cooperating with the lugs to prevent rotation of the carrier in a reverse direction. The other side of the contact carrier has the aperture counterbored at 53 with the bottom thereof defined by six equidistant serrations or teeth 59. This side of the contact carrier is also provided with three spaced pockets 60 about the counterbore for the reception of bridging contacts 62. 'Each pocket is provided with a depression St to form a seat for a compression spring 63. Each bridgin contact may consist of astrip of flat metal the ends of which are bent at right angles to the main portion of the contact.- Each. compression spring bears against the bridging contact to urge yieldingly the bridging contact outwardly. Each bridging contact is. provided with bosses or bulges 64- for engagement with stationary contact terminals.

The counterbore 58 of the contact carrier forms a bearing for a cylindrical ratchet collar 10. The ratchet collar H! has a partition Ida within it, said partition dividing the collar into two compartments. One compartment of the collar is provided with arecess l3 complementary to the contour of the enlarged portion 46 so as to be driven thereby. This end of the collar has teeth 'H' to form. a ratchet connection with the teeth, .55 in the bottom of the recess 53'. The other compartment of the collar 19 receives a compression spring 14. the partition 1M forming a seat. for oneend; of. the sprin M with the-other end extendingbeyond the end of the collar.

A subeassembly of conductor plates and stationary contact terminals for closing the open end of the housing. 35 comprises av block of insulating material having a recess it in axial alignment with the collar ill to receive and form a bearing for the. collar. .The bottom of the recess 15 provides a seat for the. other end. of the spring. it. A plurality of beaded rivets are carried bythe block, the heads of which are preferably flush with the-inner face of the block. The heads. of the rivets form stationary contacts at, v1322,. 83... 84 and. 85. These contacts are arranged in a circular row... The shanks oi the rivets: project beyond the. outer face of the block and extend through apertures provided in respective. conducting plates and peened over as lndicatedinFig.

Referring to Fig. 5, theterminal contacts are electrically conducted" to the. conducting plates in the following manner, terminals 8i and 85 to plate 9E1, terminal 82 to coil plate 92, terminal 33 to plate 93; and terminal 84 to ground plate 94 which is in turn connected to bracket 53.

Before the block 15 is assembled with the housing a gasket 95 is placed on the shoulder 36. The block rests on the gasket. The block is provided with suitable notches 96 to receive the tangs 38. The tangs are bent over against the rear side of the block to hold the block firmly against the shoulder 36 and prevent the block ":5 from moving axially Within the housing.

When the block 75 is secured in position in the housing 35 the compression spring H5 is in a compressed state and constantly urges the collar '10 and the contact carrier toward the bottom wall of the housing and maintains the ratchet connection between the teeth on the collar and the teeth in the bottom of recess 58. The spring 53 in the pockets 6| urge their respective bridging contacts against the block 15.

The means for actuating the pole reversing switch i shown in Fig. l and Fig. 2. In this particuiar arrangement the lever 2| operates the lever iii! through a linkage Hill comprising a metal strap iii! having one end IE2 pivotally mounted to the lever 2| by a stud N33. The strap is reduced at l-M to provide a. shoulder H35. The reduced portion of the strap is provided near its end with an elongated slot it through which projects a stud lill fixed to the lever 59. The stud also passes-through a slot inone end of a clip m8. The other end of the clip is enlarged and is provided with spaced angular ears I09 which straddle the reduced portion Hi4 of the strap NH. The otherend of the clip is provided with a slot and is held in assembled relationship with thestud Hi7 when the slot is fitted to an annular groove in the stud. A compression spring III is interposed between the ears IE9 and the shoulder Hi5 and operates to urge the strap HM to the right as viewed in Fig. 2.

The pole reversing switch is particularly used in an ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine, and is so mounted. and connected, with respect to the starting motor shifting lever in the present instance, that each time the starting switch is closed the direction of, flow of current through the make and break of the timer will be reversed.

Referring to Fig. 5 the pole reversing. switch is shown connected in the ignition circuit shown diagrammatically. In this figure, H 5- represents a storage battery or other source of current from which current will flow from one terminal of the battery through a lead H 6. connectedwith an ignition switch l H. When the ignition switch HT is closed the direction of flow will be'as follows: from the ignition switch l I? the current will flow thru the primary winding of an ignition coil H8, lead H9, plate 92, terminal 82, a bridging contact 62, terminal 83, plate 93, lead 128, make-and-break device I21, lead I22, terminal 8i, plate 90, terminal 85, another bridging contact 62, terminal 8'4, and ground plate 94.

The next time the operator desires to start the engine and the ignition switch is closed the rod 22 is depressed causing the lever 2! to move in a counterclockwise direction; as shown in Fig. 2 to close the starting switch 23. As the lever 2| is actuated the lever 59 is also actuated. The lever 59 is actuated through lever ltll, spring HI, and clip N38. The lever 50 is rotated until it engages a stop lug H19. After the lever is stopped by lug 39, further travel of the lever 2| is permitted by the elongated slot I06 in link I'M. The

purpose of the slot I 06 is to take care of variations and wear of the stationary contacts in the starting switch 23. When the lever 50 is moved in a clockwise direction the shaft II is rotated in the same direction. This movement of the shaft 4| drives the collar 1|] through the drive connection between the collar 10 and enlarged portion 46. The collar 10 drives the contact carrier 55 through the ratchet provision between the collar and carrier. This movement causes the contact carrier 55 to rotate substantially 60 degrees to change the positions of the bridging members 62 to connect a new series of terminals in the ignition circuit. The circuit completed will be from the battery H5, lead H6, switch H1, coil H8, lead H9, plate 92, terminal 62, a bridging member 62, terminal 8|, plate 90, lead I22, make-and-break device l2l, lead I20, plate 93; terminal 83, another bridging member 62, terminal 84 and ground plate 84.

It will be observed that in last referred to arrangements of the pole reversing switch contacts that the current flow through the make-andbreak device is reversed to that set forth in the first instance. The current will flow in this direction until the pedal 2| is again actuated to close the starting switch 23.

When the operator releases manual pressure upon the pedal attached to the rod 22 a spring, not shown, will return the lever 2| to its normal position. As the pedal is returning to home position the strap ll will move to the right causing the lever 50 and the shaft 4| to move in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2,

which actuates the collar in the same direction. The collar is moved axially within the recesses 58 and I6 by the teeth II in the recess 58 to compress the spring 16 until a new set of teeth mesh. The contact carrier 55 is held stationary by reason of certain lugs 51 engaging the teeth 42 on the bottom wall 39 which prevents the contact carrier from moving in the reverse direction. With each succeeding operation of the pedal 2| to close the starting switch the contact carrier will be rotated substantially 6.0 degrees causing a reversal in the direction of flow of current through the make-and-break device from that which prevailed during the preceding connection. By this arrangement the pitting of the contacts of the make-and-break device will be greatly reduced and will remain in a better condition for a longer time than would be the case if the current flow is always in the same direction.

While the embodiment of th present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. An electric switch comprising in combination; a housing; an oscillata'cle driving member supported by the housing; a closure for the housing; spaced stationary contacts carried by the closure; a collar rotatably supported by the closure and driven by the driving member; a carrier mounted for rotation upon the driving member and collar, said carrier supporting yieldable contacts for engagement with stationary contacts; a one-way driving connection between the collar and the carrier; and ratchet provision provided by the housing and the carrier operating to prevent reverse movement of the carrier upon movement of the driving member and collar in the non-operating direction.

2. An electric switch comprising in combination; a cup shaped housing; an oscillatable driving member supported in the bottom wall of the housing; means for actuating the driving member; a closure for closing the open end of the housing; stationary contacts carried by the closure; a recess provided by the closure; a collar rotatably supported in the recess and driven by the driving member; a carrier rotatably mounted on the driving member and the collar, said carrier supporting contacts for engagement with the stationary contacts; a one-way driving connection between the collar and the carrier; a spring disposed between the bottom of the recess and a partition provided by the collar for yieldingly urging the collar and carrier toward the bottom wall of the housing; and cooperating provisions provided by the housing and the carrier and operating to prevent reverse moement of the carrier upon movement of the driving member and the collar in the non-operating direction.

3. An electric control device comprising in combination; a pair of spaced walls; an operating shaft journalled in one of the walls; a driven shaft adapted to be slidably and rotatively journalled in the other wall; a splined connection between the shafts whereby the operating shaft drives the driven shaft; a carrier journaled on the driven shaft, said carrier carrying yieldable contacts for engagement with stationary contacts supported by the other wall; a spring for continuously biasing the driven shaft in one direction to maintain the splined connection; ratchet provisions between the inner end of the driven shaft and the carrier whereby the carrier is rotated in one direction only upon actuation of the operating shaft in one direction; ratchet provision between the carrier and the first mentioned wall preventing reverse rotation of the carrier when the actuating shaft is moved in the opposite direction of rotation.

4. An electric switch comprising in combination; spaced stationary contacts; a drive shaft; a driven shaft slidably and rotatively supported in alignment with the driven shaft; a spline connection between the shafts; a spring for continuously urging the driven shaft axially in a direction for maintaining the spline connection between the shafts; a rotor journalled upon one of the shafts, said rotor supporting yieldable contacts for engagement with the stationary contacts; ratchet provisions between driven shaft and the rotor whereby the rotor is rotated by the driven shaft in one direction only; ratchet provision between the rotor and a stationary part to prevent reverse rotation of the rotor; and means for actuating the drive shaft in either direction of rotation.

5. An electric switch comprising in combination; a housing having opposed walls; an oscillatable driving member supported by one of the walls; a collar rotatably supported by the other wall and driven by the driving member; a carrier mounted for rotation by the collar, said carrier supporting biased contacts for engagement with stationary contacts supported by the housing, a one-way driving connection between the collar and carrier; and ratchet provisions provided by the housing and the carrier preventing reverse movement of the carrier upon movement of the driving member and collar in the non-operating direction.

6. An electric switch comprising in combination; a housing having opposed walls; a driving member supported by one .of the walls; a sleeve rotatably supported by the other wall and driven by the driving member; a carrier mounted iorro- 'tation by the driving member through the sleeve,

said carrier supporting yieldable contacts for engagement with stationary contacts supported by the housing; a one-way driving-connection between the sleeve and carrier; ratchet provisions provided by the housing and the carrier preventing reverse movement of the carrier upon reverse rotation of the driving member.

"I. An electric switch comprising in combination; spaced stationary contacts; a sleeve mounted for axial and angular movement relative to the stationary contacts; a non-conducting member journaled upon the sleeve and carrying biased contacts for engagement with the stationary contacts; driving connections between the collar and non-conducting member; ratchet provisionsiprovided by a stationary part and the non-conducting member whereby the non-conducting member can move in one direction of rotation only; operating means for actuating the collar in either'direction of rotation; and spring means cooperating with the sleeveto exert an axially directedforce thereon normally to maintain said mentioned driving connections and the ratchet provisions effective.

8. An electric switch comprising in combination; a pair of shafts supported in axial alignment one of which is capable of moving axially relative to the other; a spline connection between the shafts whereby the shafts rotate together in either direction of rotation; a nonconducting carrier rotatably and axially supported by one of the shafts said carrier supporting yieldable contacts for engagement with stationarycontacts; ratchet provisions between the shaft capable of axial movement and the carrier whereby the carrier is rotated in one direction of rotation; ratchet provisions between the carrier and a stationary part for preventing reverse rotation of the carrier when the shafts move in the reverse direction of rotation; and resilient means held under compression acting on said axially movable shaft for maintaining theratchet provision efiective.

ARNOLD A. BLUEMLE. WILLIAM EARL, BROWN. 

